THE jury trying former Mayor of Sefton, John Walker, and his wife, Catie, had still failed to reach a verdict when the Midweek Visiter went to press yesterday.

They first retired on Thursday but following a total of more than 18 and a half hours deliberations they have still not agreed verdicts.

John Walker, 57, and his wife, 48, both deny two charges of conspiring to dishonestly obtain Disability Living Allowance between January 1999 and January last year and income support relating to failing to declare that Catie was working for a taxi firm.

It is alleged that John Walker claimed DLA on the basis he could only walk a few yards unaided, had dizzy spells and needed round-the-clock care. He also claimed that he had trouble communicating verbally.

But the jury at Loverpool Crown Court has heard evidence from a string of witnesses who saw him performing various roles without any obvious difficulties.

His wife denies that she was paid for escorting an autistic boy to school and for distributing cards for the taxi firm.

For the jury’s verdict - as it breaks - log onto the Visiter’s website at www.southportvisiter.co.uk